IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine men's volleyball players, Hilir Henno, Brett Sheward, Cole Power, Connor Campbell and Maxim Grigoriev earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Amerca recognition.

Henno was named to the first team for the second consecutive year. The outside hitter becomes the fourth UC Irvine player to be named to the first team more than once, joining Michael Brinkley, Kevin Tillie and Carson Clark.

Sheward and Power were named to the second team, while Campbell and Grigoriev were honorable mention selections.

Sheward picks up his second career All-American accolade with Power, Campbell and Grigoriev each earning the honor for the first time.

Henno ranks second in the country in points (5.47) and kills (4.72), while ranking seventh in hitting percentage (.380). The Big West Player of the Year recorded double-figure kills in every match this season, including a career-high 36 kills against Hawaii, the second most in the country this season. He fired a career-best nine aces versus Princeton, which is tied for fourth best in the country. The outside hitter was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week four times as well as National Player of the Week on Feb. 19.

Sheward moved to setter seamlessly this season, ranking second in the country in set assists with a 10.64 average. The first team All-Big West selection also averaged 1.75 digs. He had career-high 58 set assists versus then-No. 1 GCU and 22 digs at Hawaii, both the most by a Big West player in 2024. His 56 set assists against USC are second-most nationally in a four-set match this season.

Power anchored the Anteater defense, helping UC Irvine advance to its eighth NCAA appearance. The first team All-Big West honoree averages 1.99 digs per set, which is second in the Big West. He had 10 double-digit dig performances, including logging a season-high 15 digs in a win over Grand Canyon.

Campbell ranks 11^th in the country in blocks at 1.02 per set. The middle blocker is second in the Big West in hitting percentage with a .394 mark, hitting over .500 10 times, including over .800 twice this season. The senior had a career-best .846 (11-0-13) performance against Concordia. He totaled five or more blocks nine times, including a season-best eight total blocks (1 solo) at BYU.

Grigoriev is seventh in the Big West in hitting percentage (.326), eighth in blocks (0.89), 12th in points (3.01).and 16th in kills (2.20). Against Big West opponents, the middle blocker led the league in hitting percentage with a .500 mark (59-10-98). The sophomore is second on the team in aces with 31. He recorded double-digit kills 10 times, including a career-best 17 in a win over USC. Grigoriev hit over .500 eight times, including an .818 performance versus UC Santa Barbara (9-0-11).

UC Irvine will take on Penn State in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tuesday (Apr. 30) at 1:30 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid.  

Full AVCA Release